Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, we light lamps all around our house to celebrate the victory of good over evil. In this tutorial, I’ll show you step by step how to make clay diyas at home. This is an easy kid friendly craft that is perfect to teach our culture to the next generation.
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What you will need:
To learn how to make clay diyas, you can choose between two clay types:
- Air dry clay – gives you a more traditional terracotta- style finish.
- Model magic clay– lightweight, colorful and kid- friendly
For decorating, gather a few extras:
- Acrylic paints, gems, pearls, mirrors or dimensional paints.
- Toothpicks or small tools for detailing.
🪔 how to make clay diyas Step by Step Tutorial
- Grab a small ball of clay that is about the size of a lime or golf ball. Knead it well with your palms until it is soft and smooth.
- Shape it into a bowl form. Roll the ball of clay into a smooth round shape and then use your thumb to create an indent in the center. Gently press outwards to form the sides of the bowl, keeping the rim even,
- Pinch a Spout. Use your fingers to pinch one side into a small pointed lip- this gives the diya its classic look.
- Add decorations. Use a toothpick or small tool to carve lines or dots or patterns. You can also use acrylic paints, gems, mirrors or glitter.
- Dry Naturally. Let your diyas sit overnight (or longer) at room temperature. No baking needed! Place them on a paper or a paper plate so they can dry evenly.
Tips and Hacks:
I usually store and reuse my air dry clay after making ganesha with clay. Here a few hacks on how to make clay diyas.
- Keep your clay tightly wrapped. Close the lid on the rest of the clay right away- you don’t want it drying out
- Restore clay that’s drying out: Wrap it in a damp paper towel (squeeze out excess water) until you’re ready to use it again
- Drying time for Model Magic: It may take 36 to 72 hours, depending on the humidity and thickness.
- Kid- friendly version: Use Model Magic- it comes in fun colors, is lighter, and is gentler on little hands.
Colorful Clay Diyas For Kids:
This year, my kids and I made a rainbow of clay diyas together – each child picked colors, added dots of glue and stuck on sparkly gems. It’s a fun, festive way to include kids in Diwali prep. This year they learnt how to make clay diyas and helped me decorate Diwali cookies which we mailed out to friends and family around the US!
Share your Diyas!
If you try this how to make clay diyas tutorial, I’d love to see your finished creations. Snap a photo and tag @smithakatti on Instagram or Facebook. I enjoy seeing everyone’s Diwali crafts. If you have suggestions for future tutorials that I should try, leave a comment below and inspire me!
May your diyas shine bright, and may your Diwali be filled with joy, warmth, and light! Happy Diwali wishes from our family to yours.
